The Kurdish capital of Erbil awoke to an unusual silence on Monday morning as businesses and shops stayed shut and residents readied themselves to vote in a historic poll that could bring Iraq’s Kurds closer to their decades-old dream of independence.
At 8am, voters began pouring into polling stations in their finest traditional Kurdish clothing. After casting their votes, men and women showed off their ink-stained index fingers with pride and excitement.
Kurdish nationalism was at its peak, with flags draped everywhere and car windows plastered with images of Iraqi Kurdish president Masoud Barzani visible on most of Erbil’s streets.
Following weeks of intense campaigning in both Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region and territories held by Kurdish forces but contested by both the Kurds and Baghdad, Mr Barzani delivered on his promise to hold the much-anticipated referendum. The decision was taken in spite of a widespread international backlash, including Iran closing its air space to flights from the Kurdish region.
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Read more on the Kurdish referendum:
Iraq parliament demands troops be sent to Kirkuk amid voting
Seven key points
Referendum excitement hits fever-pitch in some cities - but others are wary
Analysis: Vote a smokescreen for Barzani's domestic political woes
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The result of the vote is not legally binding, but Kurdish officials insist it will lead to more fruitful talks with their counterparts in Baghdad. President Barzani declared on Sunday that once the votes were cast, Kurdistan would not return to its “failed partnership” with Baghdad.
In downtown Erbil, a handful of referendum posters could be seen draped over the ancient walls of the newly restored citadel. One showed the Kurdish sun emblem shackled to a red, white and black chain — the colours of the Iraqi flag.
At the foot of the citadel, in one of Erbil’s oldest tea shops, two elderly friends and former fighters with the Kurdish peshmerga forces were waiting to cast their votes for independence.
“There’s no way we will return to Baghdad again,” said Jabar Hassan Sulaimani, a blue-eyed man in his 70s sporting a white moustache and dressed in khaki.
“God willing we will not fight,” he added, alluding to the rising tension between Erbil and Baghdad. Like the majority of Kurdistan’s older generation, Mr Sulaimani witnessed Saddam Hussein’s fierce campaign against Iraq’s rebellious Kurds and wants to break away from the central government.
Baghdad, said Mr Sulaimani, had lied and oppressed the Kurds for too long; only independence could bring security.
In an attempt to undermine the vote, Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi demanded on Sunday that Kurdish authorities relinquish control of the airport in Erbil and border crossings with Iran and Turkey to Baghdad. He also asked other countries stop buying oil from the Kurds.
“We’re a different nationality, a different culture, everything about us is different,” explained Fatah Mohammad, also in his 70s. “We feel we’re being reborn. We’ve shed blood for this [dream] for many years,” said the former peshmerga fighter, sipping on steaming tea.
Across the city, in the wealthy Azadi neighbourhood, an unusually organised queue of families waited to cast their votes in a school named after Mr Barzani’s father, the nationalist leader and Kurdish hero Mustafa Barzani.
Jamila Rahman, 43, was visibly happy as she made her way toward the voting booth with her youngest child. “We couldn’t sleep from the excitement last night,” she admitted, nervously rearranging her black headscarf.
“Independence means more security and more freedom. We want our flag and our country,” she explained.
For Ms Rahman and her fellow Kurds, the day was laden with historical importance, yet it was also a day for celebration and family gatherings. “I’ve cooked celebratory food,” she smiled. Some residents likened the day to Eid celebrations.
North of Azadi, in the Christian neighbourhood of Ainkawa, shop shutters stayed down and windows sported pro-referendum posters.
Bigi Yousef, a slight woman with long white hair, pushed her vote in the ballot box before turning and smiling. “I’m happy to be voting for my country,” said the elderly Christian woman. “With independence it will be more secure and Christians want security.”
But not all Kurds chose to vote.
Ahmed Najm, a 28-year-old journalist in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah, said he was disillusioned with the political elite for turning two communities that should support one another against each other — adding that he knew other Kurds who felt the same.
“I don’t want to say yes to independence because I’m really proud of being Iraqi, but I don’t want to say no because it’s other people’s right to decide their future,” he said.
Rafael Nadal's record at the MWTC
2009 Finalist
2010 Champion
Jan 2011 Champion
Dec 2011 Semi-finalist
Dec 2012 Did not play
Dec 2013 Semi-finalist
2015 Semi-finalist
Jan 2016 Champion
Dec 2016 Champion
2017 Did not play
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8
Power: 503hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 685Nm at 2,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Price: from Dh850,000
On sale: now
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule
12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)
2pm Formula One final practice
5pm Formula One qualifying
6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)
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Profile of MoneyFellows
Founder: Ahmed Wadi
Launched: 2016
Employees: 76
Financing stage: Series A ($4 million)
Investors: Partech, Sawari Ventures, 500 Startups, Dubai Angel Investors, Phoenician Fund
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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Men's football draw
Group A: UAE, Spain, South Africa, Jamaica
Group B: Bangladesh, Serbia, Korea
Group C: Bharat, Denmark, Kenya, USA
Group D: Oman, Austria, Rwanda
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infobox
Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August
Results
UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets
Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets
Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets
Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs
Monday fixtures
UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
More coverage from the Future Forum
Visa changes give families fresh hope
Foreign workers can sponsor family members based solely on their income
Male residents employed in the UAE can sponsor immediate family members, such as wife and children, subject to conditions that include a minimum salary of Dh 4,000 or Dh 3,000 plus accommodation.
Attested original marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, ejari or rental contract, labour contract, salary certificate must be submitted to the government authorised typing centre to complete the sponsorship process
In Abu Dhabi, a woman can sponsor her husband and children if she holds a residence permit stating she is an engineer, teacher, doctor, nurse or any profession related to the medical sector and her monthly salary is at least Dh 10,000 or Dh 8,000 plus accommodation.
In Dubai, if a woman is not employed in the above categories she can get approval to sponsor her family if her monthly salary is more than Dh 10,000 and with a special permission from the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai.
To sponsor parents, a worker should earn Dh20,000 or Dh19,000 a month, plus a two-bedroom accommodation
The years Ramadan fell in May
The five pillars of Islam
Classification from Tour de France after Stage 17
1. Chris Froome (Britain / Team Sky) 73:27:26"
2. Rigoberto Uran (Colombia / Cannondale-Drapac) 27"
3. Romain Bardet (France / AG2R La Mondiale)
4. Fabio Aru (Italy / Astana Pro Team) 53"
5. Mikel Landa (Spain / Team Sky) 1:24"
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
